Abuja, Nigeria — 8 September 2026
A significant milestone has been recorded in Nigeria’s journey toward a more coordinated, inclusive, and sustainable circular economy as the Waste Pickers Association of Nigeria (WAPAN) and the Recycling Association of Nigeria (RAN) officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Ladi Kwali Conference Centre, Abuja Continental Hotel, Abuja.
The landmark agreement brings together two important stakeholders in Nigeria’s recycling and resource-recovery ecosystem, with the shared objective of strengthening collaboration, improving industry coordination, and creating a more structured and inclusive recycling sector.
The MoU was signed on behalf of WAPAN by the National President, Comrade Salisu Ali Yarima, alongside the National Secretary. RAN was represented at the ceremony by its Vice President and Secretary. The signing was witnessed by Mrs. Esther Fagbo, NPAP Manager, underscoring the importance of the partnership and the broader stakeholder interest in advancing Nigeria’s circular economy agenda.
Strengthening Collaboration Across the Recycling Value Chain
The agreement represents a shared commitment to addressing some of the structural challenges facing Nigeria’s recycling industry. By fostering stronger coordination between waste pickers and recycling industry stakeholders, the partnership seeks to promote greater cooperation across the recycling value chain.
At the heart of the MoU is a commitment to stakeholder formalization, improved coordination, reliable recovery data, and greater inclusion of waste pickers within the formal circular economy.
Waste pickers play a vital role in recovering recyclable materials from Nigeria’s waste streams, contributing significantly to environmental sustainability, resource conservation, and the reduction of waste reaching disposal sites. Yet, much of this contribution has historically operated within an informal and fragmented system.
This partnership provides an opportunity to strengthen the structures through which waste pickers, recyclers, processors, policymakers, and other stakeholders can work together.
Advancing Reliable Data and Better Industry Planning
One of the key areas highlighted by the partnership is the need for reliable recovery data.
Accurate data on waste collection, recovery volumes, materials, locations, and value-chain participants is essential for effective planning, investment, policymaking, and environmental management. Stronger collaboration between WAPAN and RAN can contribute to a more dependable understanding of Nigeria’s recycling ecosystem and help stakeholders make better-informed decisions.
Improved data can also support the development of more efficient collection systems, identify opportunities for investment, strengthen monitoring, and demonstrate the economic and environmental value generated by waste recovery activities.
Toward a More Inclusive Circular Economy
The partnership also represents an important step toward ensuring that the people working at the grassroots of Nigeria’s recycling system are meaningfully recognized and integrated into the country’s emerging circular economy.
For waste pickers, formalization can create pathways toward stronger institutional recognition, improved working conditions, access to opportunities, and greater participation in the broader recycling economy. For the recycling industry, stronger organization and coordination can help improve the efficiency and sustainability of material recovery.
The collaboration between WAPAN and RAN therefore extends beyond an institutional agreement. It reflects a broader vision in which environmental sustainability, economic opportunity, social inclusion, and responsible resource management reinforce one another.
Building a Stronger Recycling Sector for Nigeria
The signing of the MoU marks the beginning of a new phase of cooperation between WAPAN and RAN. It signals a shared determination to build a recycling sector that is better coordinated, more transparent, more data-driven, and more inclusive.
As Nigeria continues to strengthen its environmental and circular economy systems, partnerships such as this can provide an important foundation for connecting grassroots waste recovery with formal recycling and resource-management structures.
The message from this milestone is clear: Nigeria’s circular economy will be stronger when its stakeholders work together.
Through collaboration, formalization, reliable data, and shared responsibility, WAPAN and RAN are taking another important step toward building a stronger, more resilient, and better-structured recycling sector for Nigeria.